Truck swing link



F. L. ALBEN TRUCK SWING LINK Nov. 11, 1924. 151571321.

Filed Nov. 7, 1922 fig? 5 Fig. l WITNESSES: v INVENTOR Fran/f L A/ben CIJ Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

FRANK L. ALBEN, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOU'SE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TRUCK SWING LINK.

Application led November To @ZZ 'whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK L. ALBEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of VVilkinsburg, in the county of Al*- legheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Truck Swing Links, of which the follow-r ing is a specification.

My invention relates to swing supporting structures, more especially to swingbolster mountings of the type which permit of relative movement of the bolster and' its support, such as are employed for effecting transfer of weight of vehicle bodiesl rela tive to theirsupportino' wheels. f

Itis among the objects of this invention to provide a mechanism of the abovedesignated type which shalll be of strong, durable, eiiicient and economical construction.

It is a further objectof this invention to provide a swing-bolster mounting which is especially adapted to railway vehicles/to provide proper steering action ofthe leading or trailing truck with the main vehicle body supports.

Various types of swing-'link mountings have been proposed which embody a plurality'of link suspensions by which a bolster plate is supported and which provide lateral movement of Vthe bolster relative to the main truck frame to effect guiding action of the wheels onthe rails. n

.My present invention is directed to aA novel type of swing-link or swing-bolster construction which is Vadapted to provide positive relative' movement of the body mounted thereon by means of a stable hinge joint which may be instantly changed to an idle swinging support. This is of particular advantage in railway vehicles where it is desired to provide positive steering action ofthe idle truck for varying curvatures oft-he rail when such truck is leading and free yidle movement between the rails when it trails. f v

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts,

Figure-1 is a front elevational view of a pair of swing links embodying the prin* ciples` of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of a single member;

Fig. 3 is a plan View; and

Serial No. 599,521.

thereon. A swing bolster 41, which is adapted to support a load,'such as the center pinV of a two-wheel vtruck member, is secured to the lower ends of the links 1 by a pivotal connection 5. The links 1 are supported on a mainframe portion 6 at the centerbearing roller 3fwhich fits into a semi-cyl lindricalseat in a bearing member 7 that projects upwardly from the frame 6.

The links 1 are further adapted to be supportedat the outer rollers 3 by a movable supporting block 8 which is adapted to movevertically in a guide 10, provided in the supporting frame 6: The movable block' 8 is connected, by a pluralityl of linksl 11 and 12wvlii-ch constitute a toggle joint, to

a projecting `bracket 13 extending from the main frame. kThe toggle links 11 and 12' are pivoted, respectively, to the movable supporting block 8 and the bracket 13 to effect relative movement between the block and the supporting frame. Thel toggles kare connected together, bymeans of a suit# i able tie or connecting rod 15, 4to effect syn'- chronous movement of the blocks 8 in theii1 respective guides. A stop 17 is providedV on one side of one of the toggle joints to limit` its movement in one direction so that, when the toggle is in engagement therewith, it is comparatively stable.

The operation of the mechanism thus far fri) described is brieiiy as follows. If it isdesired toy provide a free swinging suspension of the bolster plate 4', the Vconnecting rod 15- isfmoved laterally to the right, which, breaks ,the ytoggle vjoint and removes the support 3 from the outer rollers of the links 1, thus permittingthe center roller 3 to engageits bearing member 7. The link is then free to swing on the bearing 7 yand provides free swinging movement of the bolster plate 4. When the connecting rod 15 is placed'in theposition illustrated in Fig. 1, with one of 'the' toggle members resting against the stop 17, the movable support or bearing block l8 is actuated to engage' the outer rollers 3 ofthev linkand raise the central roller 3 out ofV engagement with lil.;

its supportingbearing"7. Iii thisposition,l the linksare permitted to hinge about' the outer rollers, such as an outer roller onoiie lin'k/ and an' inner roller on' the coactiirgl 'tliat describedi aboif'e, withl the exception that the" movable blocks' @are not disposed in guide-ways and, therefore', they do not i'equ'ire'the relatively large `face width that tlieb'locks' illustrated in Fig. l do.' l The blocks' 8' otFig. 4" are' adapted to' seat' on pads' G'tliat are' secured to the truck tran'-v som.' Otherwise, the' function of the linksk and supports are thesame' as described. above'.

It will beevideiit, from the above description of my invention, that swinging-linkbolster connections provide an eiicient means' for obtaining posit-ive and stable movement of the,- supportedl bolster plate relative tothe thrust' exerted thereon and permitl of instantly' altering the link supports to provide iree swinging vmotion of the bolster plate relative to Vthe main' support freniwhich'tlie'links'are suspended.

Although I have described' aV specific ein-v bodiinent ol-iny invention, it will be obvious to those skille'd`inthe art that' various inod-y iticatio'ns may be `made in the-details o'construction' without departing from thepr'inciples herein-set forth.' For'V instance, the`V sli-ape of tlie links and movable supportingV blocks' maybe altered to provide the' requisite strength and rigidity for their coacting part-s, 'lihe specific means for' mounting the link ine'chanisni' upon ak supporting frame is immaterial so lo'ngas 'tlie'type of' mounting employed combines freedom of movement of the 'various parts and, further, it` is evident that, although I have specifically describedmy invention in connection with railway-vehicle steering trucks, it"` is also applicable to other uses where such movements are desirable.

I claim as. my invention:

l. A' swing mounting" comprising a' supporting frame, a plurality of swingA links, a swing'bolsterf carried by said links andpivotally connected thereto,a movable anda fixed' supportfcr said links, and means for' engaging the saine with the one or the other oi'A "said supports.

2. A swing mounting comprising a sup# porting' frame, a' plurality of swing links', a swing bolster' carried' bysaid links and pivotally connected thereto, a: movable and a` y tined'support r saidllinks, yand means' for' actuating said movable supports into and out oi engagement with said'links'.--

5. A swingl mounting comprising' asupportingfframe, a plurality of swinglinks, -a'- swing bolsterv carriedby said linkszand pivotally'connected thereto, a movablev andv a liXed support for said links, andA means for- `changingthe engagement olysaid links withl said movable and iiXed supports.

(i. Ak swing mounting comprising a-1-sup` portingfr'ame', a plurality of swin/glinks, a swing bolsterLv carried by' said links -aiidpiv'- otally connectedlthereto, a: movable and a lixed support. for said links, and means for simulta'neoiisly` changing the engagement of saidlinks witlisaidinovable and iiXedY'sup'#v ports.

'l'. A swing mounting comprising' a'supl portingframe, a plurality ots'wing'linkaay swingbolster carried by said links and'p'ivotally connected thereto, a movable" and a y liXedsupport forsaid links', andmeans for alternately 'engaging said movable and ir ed supports with.l said i linksf 8. Arswing mounting comprising a supporting frame, arplur'ality of swing links, a;

swing bolster carriedby saidlinks and piv otally connected thereto, a movable and: a

fixed'supportior said-links, and means l-or' simultaneously disengaging said links-from' one of their supportsa'nd effecting engagea nient with'their other supports.` y

9. A swing mounting comprising a sup# porting traine, a plurality o'lf'swing links,1 ay

swing bolster carried by said links'and' pivotally connected thereto, a movable and afixfed support Jfor said links, and meansfor simultaneously disengaging said links from'y their fixed' supports" and" eecting engagement with their movable supports.

l0. A swing mounting comprising a* supporting traine, a plurality of swing links, aswing bolster' carried by said links an'dpivotally connected thereto, a movable/"andl a fixed support for said links, and'meansy for simultaneously disengaging said linksr4 from their movable supports and effecting: en gageinent with their fixed supports.

ll. A swing mounting comprising' as'upporting frame, a. plurality of swing links, a swing bolster carried by said links and pivotally connected thereto, a movable and a fixed supportior said links, and means for alternately engaging said movable and lixed supports with said links, said means comprising a toggle-j oint connection between the movable support and the main frame.

l2. A swing mounting Comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of swing links, a swing bolster carried by said links and pivotally connected thereto, a movable and a fixed support for said links, and means for alternately engaging said movable and fixed supports with said links, said means comprising a hand-actuated toggle-joint connection between the movable support and the main frame.

13. A swing mounting comprising a. sup-` porting frame, a plurality of swing links, a swing bolster Carried by said links, and pivotally connected thereto, a movable and a fixed support. for said links, and means for alternately engaging said movable and iiXed supports with said links, said means comprising a toggle-joint connection between the movable support and the main frame, and a connecting rodv pivotally secured to said toggles to coactively operate the same.

14. A swing mounting comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of swing links, a swing' bolster Carried by said links and pivotally connected thereto, a movable and a fixed support for said links, and means for alternately engaging said movable and iixed supports with said links, said means comprising a toggle-joint connection between the movable support and the main frame and a connecting rod pivotally secured to the central joint of said toggle to coaetively operate the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of October 1922.

FRANK L. ALBEN. 

